1
as in class
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped the lower strata of society have been hit especially hard by this economic downturn

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2
as in level
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement the level of writing in that pop novel is several strata beneath that of serious fiction

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stratum Modern maps lay down stratum after stratum of recommendation. Sonya Bennett-Brandt, AFAR Media, 25 June 2025 And while there are occasional deserters, the intellectual stratum is enlarging. Marquis William Childs, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 Many activists came to see the old working class and their trade unions as a privileged stratum that demonstrated little sympathy for the plight of immigrants and racial minorities. Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2018 It’s built on a silicon wafer, and the first stratum is made up of silicon logic. IEEE Spectrum, 6 July 2017 See All Example Sentences for stratum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stratum
Noun
  • Founded by Rachel Katzman in 2017, Pvolve is a low-impact toning workout — available online and in-person for classes — prioritizing strength, stability and mobility.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Students in those schools have been unable to get their meals at lunch, to make it to classes on different floors or even to attend their neighborhood school.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Why not bring that level of obsession to your situationship costume?
    James Factora, Them., 17 Oct. 2025
  • The strongest brands look beyond surface-level metrics to uncover the real signals of loyalty, credibility and cultural resonance.
    Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In his mind, the army was not a caste apart but an instrument of the republic – an arena in which self-command and civic virtue were tested.
    Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
  • What does a punk drummer have to do with a scholar of caste in India, or a border reporter who has walked for years with coyotes?
    Javier Garcia del Moral September 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Matt Rhule professed his love for living and working in Nebraska and trying to return the Cornhuskers to the upper echelon of college football.
    Eric Olson, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Erin Doyle, a longtime producer, was elevated at the start of the season to the top echelon of senior staff.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In 2024, the department reported it was budgeted for 1,937 officers, but had a little over 1,600 positions filled.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Maybe that — combined with the steady growth of young defenders like Ashton Gillotte, Omarr Norman-Lott and Nohl Williams — will be enough to put KC back in position to lift its third Lombardi in four years.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Princeton University was deemed both the best university and school overall, according to WalletHub, due to its 4 percent acceptance rank and how 93 percent of the incoming students were in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The organization, which counts about a million scouts in its ranks, offers hundreds of merit badges spanning everything from fishing to fingerprinting.
    Gordon Ebanks, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Charlotte entered the day with a -7 turnover margin, ranking 129th out of 134 FBS schools.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The ranking leans heavily on the chances for a coach to succeed there.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Trump also revoked Bolton's security detail, which was in place because of threats from Iran.
    NPR, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
  • How does a company become—and stay—a great place to work?
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stratum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stratum. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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